Air engine



May 38 W26. 1,584,937

, K. HERMAN- AIR ENGINE Filed Sept 3', 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 18, 1926 1",5s4,937

K. HERMAN AIR ENGINE Filed Sept. 5. 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 awmz'ntoz .l H61" 412 May 18 1 926.

K. HERMAN AIR ENGINE Filed Sept. 5.- 1924 SSheet-Sheet 5 Suva-M1201 [7 Jikmmzz affozuci Patented May 18, 1926.

issan KARL nnaiuamor ranirron, new annsnr! AIR ENGINE.

Application filed September This invention relates to an air engine which, while designed primarily for power purposes, can, by being slightly niodilied, be used as a compressor or 'pun'ip for placing air or other fluids under pressure.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide, a simple, compacr and otficient structure of this character utilizing oscillating cylinders, the inoven'ient of the cylinders being utilized for contmlling the operation of the intake and exhaust valves so that air will be admitted to the cylinders and discharge therefrom in properly timed relation.

'VYith the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of constructon hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made with in the scopeof what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred forms of the invention have been shown.

In said drawings Figure 1 is an elevation of the engine, remote parts being removed.

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section, different positions of the cylinder being indicated by broken lines.

Fig. 3 is a section on line 3-3, Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a section through the intake valve of one of the cylinders.

Fig. 5 is a section through the exhaust valve of a cylinder.

Fig. 6 is a section through a portion of a modifier construction as utilized for a pump.

Fig. 7 is a section on line 7-7, Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a section on line 88, Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is a section through an air intake for use when the engine is employed. as a pump.

Fig. 10 is a. section through another form of air intake.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference 1 designates a base on which are mounted standards 2 connected, at the top, by a cross head or beam 3. In. these standards is journaled a shaft 4: having a series of cranks 5, there being one of these cranks used in connection with each cylinder of the engine. A fly wheel 6 can be secured to the shaft or, if the engine is to be used as a 3, 1924. Serial; No. 735,705.

pump, a drive pulley can be employ lieu of the fly wheel. 7

Supported by and extending transversely of the standards ad acent the upper ends thereof is a pivot shaft '7 on which are suspended cylinders 8. The lower ends of-the cylinders are open while the upper end portion of each cylinder contains a head 9. A spider 10 is provided in the lower end of each cylinder and provides a bei-iring for the rod 11 of a piston One piston is provided for each cylinder and the rod of each piston is mounted on one of the cranks 5.

Extending transversely of the engine and suitably supported by the standards 2 is a supply pipe 13. This pipe is located outside of the paths of movementof the cylinders and has valve casings let. the outlets 15 of which are connected. by fiexible'tubes 16 to the inlet ports 17 of the respective cylinders. A poppet valve 18 normally closes the outlet of each valve casing 14 and the stem 19 of each valve projects toward its cylinder 8. A spring 20 is mounted on the stem and holds the valve normally to its seat. Thus it will be seen that each time one of the cylinders swings in one direction it will come against the stem 19 of its valve 18, unseat the valve, and allow air under pressure. to flowfrom the pipe 13 to the flexible pipe 16 and thence into the cylinder so as to dri've the piston 12.

Each cylinder has an outlet port 21 preferably located diametrically opposite the inlet port 17. This port 21 is normally closed by a. poppet valve 22- the stem 23 of which projects toward a bar 24 which is fixedly connected to the standards 2 and supported just outside of the paths of the cylinders. A spring 25 is mounted on each stem 23 and serves to hold the valve normally to its seat. It will be apparent that when each cylinder moves away from the pipe 13 toward one limit of its movement the stem 23 of its exhaust valve will come against the bar 24 and cause the valve to be unseated. Thus the air under pressure within the cylinder will be allowed to exhaust.

With the engine constructed as describeitl it will be obvious that when pressure is directed into the pipe 13 it will flow through the casing 14 containing an unseated valve 18 and will thus flow through the port 1'? of one of the cylinders and force. its piston 12- downwardly. Rotation of shaft A will thus be set up and the several pistons will be ed in brought successively to positions to unseat their valves 18, and, at the proper times, the exhaust valves 22 will be unseated. Thus the pistons will be successively driven and a continuous rotation of the shaft t will be set up.

If desired the engine can be utilized with a pump. In this event the exhaust ports 21 will not be used. Instead the piston 26 in each cylinder 27 will be provided with a port :28 opening into the cylinder beyond the pressure chamber. A check valve 29 is pro vided for closing the port 28 during the compression or forcing stroke of the piston, this valve being held in place by a retaining strip 30 as shown in F 6 and 8. Each cylinder has an outlet port 31 extending through a block 32. A nipple 33 provided with a block or enlargement is spaced from the block 32 by a plate in which is formed an openine 36. This opening is adapted to receive a check valve 3? in the form of a disk. A passage 38 extends through the nipple 32-3 and that end of the passage opening into the space 36 is intersected by a groove 39 extending beyond the periphery of the valve disk 37. It will be obvious from the foregoing that during the forcing stroke of piston 26 valve 29 will be seated while the air in the path of the piston will be expelled through the port 31 and force valve 37 against the base The air will thus be free to escape through the groove 89 into passage 38. On the reverse stroke of the piston the valve 37 will be drawn to its seat as shown in Fig. 6 while the valve 29 will lift elf of its seat and allow a fresh supply of air to enter the cylinder for subsequent expulsion.

If desired an air filtering device such as shown for example in Fig. 9 can be used at either the inlet or the outlet of the structure. One form of filter device includes a head %0 having a perforated face 4-1 provided with opposed hollow wings 42, the inner face of each of which can be perforated as shown. Another form of filter has been illustrated in Fig. 10 and includes a head 43 having a concavo-convex end 4% provided with perforations.

It is to be understood that this engine can be of any desired size and that any desired number of cylinders can be used. The structure acts as a very etiicient pump or air CORP pressor and when so used it can be operated by any power desired.

\Vhile the device, when used as an engine, preferably utilizes air under pressure as a power medium it is to be understood that steam or any other fiuid under pressure can be employed.

'lYhatis claimed is 1. The combination with afixed supply pipe and a fixed bar spaced therefrom, of a plurality of cylinders pivotally suspended between the pipe and bar, a shaft having cranks, pistons in the cylinders, rods connecting the pistons to the respective cranks, said cranks and rods cooperating to oscillate the cylinders, each cylinder having an inlet portand an exhaust port, a flexible pipe connection between each inlet port and the supply pipe, poppet valves for controlling communication between the supply pipe and the respective flexible pipes, each cylinder, when moved in one direction, constituting means for unseating the poppet valve associated with the supply pipe and a poppet valve carried by each cylinder and normally closing the exhaust port, said cylinder, when moved in the opposite direction, constituting means for directing the stem of said poppet valve against the fixed bar to unseat the valve and open the exhaust.

2. The combination with a fixed bar and a fixed supply pipe, of a plurality of cylinders, a pivot shaft supporting the cylinder between the bar and supply pipe, :1 piston in each cylinder, a crank shaft connected to the pistons, said cylinders being mounted for oscillation, pipe connections between the supply pipe and the respective cylinders, poppet valves carried by the supply pipes for controlling communication between said pipe and the cylinders, each cylinder having an exhaust port, a poppet valve normally closing each of the exhaust ports, each cylinder, when oscillated, constituting means for first unseating one of the poppet valves of the supply pipe and then directing the stem of the poppet valve of its exhaust against the fixed bar to open said valve.

3. The combination with a fixed bar and a supply pipe, of a cylinder, a pivot shattsupporting the cylinder therebetween for oscillation, a crank shaft, a piston within the cylinder, a connection between the piston and the crank shaft, a flexible pipe connection between the cylinder and the supply pipe, said cylinder having an exhaust port, a boppet valve carried by the supply pipe and having a stem projecting toward the cylinder, a. poppet valve carried by the cylinder and having a stem projecting towards the bar, said poppet: valves respectively normally closing communication between the supply pipe and the cylinder and closing the exhaust, said cylinder constituting means, when moved. in one direction, for un earing one poppet valve and, when moved in the opposite direction for shifting the stem of the other valve against the bar to unseat the valve.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature.

KARL I-IERMAX. 

